Amazon Inks Nuclear Deal to Power AI Ambitions Amazon signed a large nuclear power agreement with Talen Energy to supply 1,920 megawatts (MW) of power to its AI-driven data centers. The deal will last through 2042 and marks a significant move toward clean, high-capacity energy for the tech giant’s infrastructure. The electricity will be supplied by Talen’s Susquehanna nuclear facility in Pennsylvania and travel over the local grid, serving both Amazon operations and grid reliability. Powering the Grid, Supporting Innovation Rather than direct supply, the energy will be provided through PPL Electric Utilities. The company’s president, Christine Martin, noted that such high-load connections allow for the offset of other consumers’ cost of energy. Connecting large data center loads to our transmission grid helps lower the transmission portion of energy costs for all,” she said. Amazon’s agreement also includes exploring the future deployment of small modular reactor (SMR) technology—a next-generation nuclear technology that is designed with scalability and efficiency in mind. Tech Giants Embrace Nuclear for AI Infrastructure Amazon is the latest in a string of tech firms embracing nuclear power. In September 2024, Microsoft agreed with Constellation Energy to reopen the Three Mile Island plant, securing 835MW for AI needs. Earlier this month, Meta inked a 20-year deal to purchase 1.1 gigawatts of nuclear energy from the same provider, marking a broader shift in tech toward green, high-capacity power solutions. Political Momentum Behind Nuclear Expansion The momentum has caught up with US policymakers, including President Donald Trump, who continues to demand increased nuclear investment. Trump views nuclear power as key to energizing AI, cryptocurrency mining, and high-performance computing as the U.S. struggles to keep pace with global tech development. With Amazon’s recent move, the nuclear renaissance has another heavyweight believer—one dedicated to energizing the AI future.
